INTRODUCTION xix 



2.— DESCRIPTIONS BY SPANISH WRITERS. 



Tlio earliest exploration of the coast of Yucatan was that of Francisco 

 Hernandez de Cordova, in 1517. The year following, a second expedition, 

 under Juan de Grijalva, visited a number of points between the island of 

 Cozumel and the Bahia de Terniinos. 



Several accounts of Grijalva's voyage have been preserved, but they 

 make no distinct I'eference to the method of writing they found in use. 

 Some native books were obtained, however, probably from the Mayas, and 

 were sent to Spain, where they were seen by the historian Peter Martyr. 

 He describes them in general terms, and compares the characters in which 

 they were written to the Egyptian hieroglyphics, some of which he had 

 seen in Rome. He supposes that they contain the laws and ceremonies of 

 the people, astronomical calculations, the deeds of their kings, and other 

 events of their history. He also speaks in commendation of the neatness 

 of their general appearance and the skill with which the drawing and paint- 

 ing were carried out. He further mentions that the natives iised this method 

 of writing or drawing in the affairs of common life.^ 



Although Yucatan became thus early known to the Spaniards, it was 

 not until 1541 that a permanent settlement was effected, in which year 

 Francisco de Montejo, the younger, advanced into the central province of 

 Cell Pech, and established a city on the site of the ancient town called 

 Iclican&iJio, which means "the five (temples) of many oracles (or serpents)," 

 t ) whicli he gave the name Merida, on account of the magnificent ancient 

 edifices he found tliere. 



Previous to this date, however, in 1534, Father Jacobo de Testera, with 

 four other missionaries, proceeded from Tabasco up the west coast to the 

 neighborhood of the Bay of Campeachy. They were received amicably 

 by the natives, and instructed them in the articles of the Christian faith. 

 They also obtained from the chiefs a submission to tlie King of Spain; and 

 I mention this early missionary expedition for the fact stated that each chief 

 signed this act of submission "with a certain mark, like an autograph." 



' Peter Martyr, decad. iv, cap. viii. 



